[3:38 PM] Miami (FL) @ Notre Dame

Who will WIN this matchup?

Miami (FL) Hurricanes (4-3)

@ Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-5)

Current odds:

Miami (FL) Hurricanes: (-120)

Notre Dame Fighting Irish: (+100)

• ESPN simulations have Miami (FL) as XX% favorites to win the game.

• XX% of sports bets are currently on Notre Dame to win as (TBD) underdogs.

• The line for this game is Miami by 1 point.

• In a matchup that pales in comparison to their epic battles of the distant past, Miami (Fla.) and host Notre Dame meet on Saturday with both teams desperate to end losing streaks. After an encouraging 4-0 start to the Mark Richt era that had them ranked No. 10, the Hurricanes have lost three consecutive games against ACC foes while the Irish have dropped two in a row and four of five after being a top-10 team to begin the season.

• Brad Kaaya (1,696 yards, 61.7 percent completion rate, 12 touchdown passes) threw for 323 yards in Miami’s 37-16 loss to Virginia Tech but was sacked eight times due to a combination of poor protection and holding the ball too long. Running backs Mark Walton (618 yards, 5.4 per carry) and Joe Yearby (493, 6.8) have been less productive during the losing streak, one of several reasons the offense has been unable to sustain drives – Miami is 120th in FBS in time of possession (25 minutes per game). The Hurricanes, ranked No. 1 in tackles for losses (10.1 per game), faced the Hokies without four key defensive starters last week, including standout linemen Chad Thomas and Demetrius Jackson and cornerback Sheldrick Redwine, but Richt said he expects some of the missing to return Saturday.

• Behind dual-threat quarterback DeShone Kizer (285 yards rushing, 1,775 passing), whose running ability matches the previous three signal-callers who burned Miami, the Irish averaged 40.4 points in starting 2-3 but totaled only 13 in losses to North Carolina State and Stanford. Kizer, benched briefly against the Cardinal after throwing two interceptions – including a pick-six, has a big-play receiver in Equanimeous St. Brown (31 receptions, 19.7 yards per catch) while Josh Adams (416 yards, 4.7 yards per carry) leads the running attack. The defense, keyed by linebackers Nyles Morgan and James Onwualu (five tackles for losses), has made strides since coordinator Brian VanGorder was fired – especially in keeping Stanford out of the red zone until the fourth quarter and forcing a season-high three turnovers.

• Notre Dame is 17-7-1 all-time versus Miami, including wins in their last two meetings in the 2010 Sun Bowl (33-17) and in 2012 in Chicago (41-3), while the Hurricanes were 6-3 between 1981-90 – when the rivalry was at its emotional peak.

• Despite their 2-5 record, the Irish have outscored their opponents 202-194, with the losses coming by an average of only five points.

• The game features the No. 1 (Kizer) and No. 3 (Kaaya) NFL QB draft prospects, according to Scouts Inc., with most other draft sites placing both in their top four.

StreakSmarts Pick: Miami (FL) Hurricanes

Confidence: 4/10